Dean of University of Virginia's Curry School of Education invited us 8 interns to his house for a mixer. He told us that he lives in Pavillion #3 on the Lawn. We were like, what?? He lives on THE Lawn? The Lawn is a big quad with the Rotunda at one end and a long stretch of brick buildings on either side. There are only about 40 rooms, and it's a very prestigious place to live as a senior (or a 4th year, as UVA people call it). The Lawn Committee selects super involved students who are the leaders of the senior class. In between the rooms are 8 pavillions where deans and vice presidents live.

I was thinking that Dean Pianta probably doesn't actually live in the pavillion and that he must have another mansion somewhere in the woods in Charlottesville. But no, he said the pavillion really is his house (and the only). The house was traditional and southern-looking..

. nothing really spectacular to be honest. The balcony, however, was awesome! It had a view of the whole lawn, and I bet it's a great place to be for graduation or any other events on the Lawn! Dean Pianta said it gets loud at night (probably students who are streaking), and sometimes students jump up and dart across the balcony! He says he enjoys living in a public space though. We then had an informal discussion about graduate school and educational research and whatnot...

By the way, did I mention that UVA is a UNESCO world heritage site? UVA is a huge university but has many traditions that makes it a very unique community.